The lights are on

For over 20 years residents and businesses in Island Park have been asking for a traffic light at the intersection of Kingston Boulevard and Austin Boulevard. It has been the site of numerous accidents, on what is the most dangerous section of road in the area.

According to Nassau County Department of Transportation statistics one person dies on the stretch of Austin Blvd. from the foot of the Long Beach Bridge to the border of Island Park, at the bridge just north of Peter’s Clam Bar Restaurant, every year.

Resident Henry Monteverde said it has been “a long time coming. We who live here started asking for this years ago.”

The Chamber of Commerce added its support in 2000, organizing a meeting of officials from the Village of Island Park including then Mayor Jackie Papatsos, Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino, the Island Park School District, the Island Park Fire Department, the Nassau County Police Department, County Legislator Denise Ford and the DOT, all to look at safety on Austin Blvd. Later the Civic Association, along with the Island Park Business and Residential Chamber of Commerce joined with local businesses and residents, calling for a light at that intersection.

This week all that work paid off.